Running-gear.



V'1"0 all u'wni -it may concern:

-Be it known that I, 'ILLLtu M. H aw GRovB, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at- Prospect, in the county of Giles and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Running-Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to horse-drawn vehicles, and more particularly to running gears for buggies and other vehicles.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction of -running gears so as to be comparatively easy and inexpenslve to manufact-ure, of simple and substantial design, and thoroughly reliable in use- A further object of the invention is the provision of a pivotal connection between the front axle and reach which4 ermits of the parts to be readily detached an( a fifth wheel construction dispensed nith.

A further object of the invention is the employment of a. yoke at the front end of the reach to which the axle is pivotally connected, the yoke being swiveled on the reach and detachably connected therewith.

Wit-h these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described iereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illus-v trates one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the running gears with the wheel removed. Fig. 2 is a ont. view of the fore-axle. Fig. 3 1s a rear view thereof detached from the reach. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the pivotal connection between the front axle and yoke, the

yoke being disconnected from the reach bar. Fiv. 5 is a detail view of the pivot or king boilY )ortion of the front axle. Fig. 6 is a detai perspective view of the front end of the reach- Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing. 1 designates the front axle and 2, the vrear axle that are connected together by a central reach 3, the rear end of the reach being connected with the back axle in any suitable manner and held rigidlv in place by brace rods or struts 4.

On tie axies are supported transversely- Specication of Letters Patent. application r11-ea iugm 21, 1907. serial No. 389,553.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

extending elliptical body supporting springs 5 of ordinary form. The front axle, which may be arched as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, .is formed at its center with oppositel '-.extending bosses 6 and 7 disposed vertical f in lline with each other. Straddling these a yoke 8 which is pivotally connected to the bosses. In the preferred construction, the lower ari-ii 9 has its terminal provided with a vertical aperture 10 for the reception of a bolt 11 that has threaded engagement therein, the said bolt having its inner end formed into a pivot 12 that engages in a socket 13 in the bottom boss 7 of the axle. The under side of the upper arm 14 of the yoke has'a socket 15 into which engages a stud or pivot 16 on the top boss 6, thereby pivotally connectinlT the front axle with the yoke, so that the axle can turn on a vertical axis, as in steering or guidinlr the vehicle. On the top arm is integrally Formed a seat 17 to whic i the front springs 5 are connected by clips 18. Extendinv rearwardly from the yoke 8 is a. horizontal pivot 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, that engages in a socket '20 extendin inwardly from the front end of the reac 3, whereb the front axle can tilt about the reach o the horizontal axis, as in passino' over inequalities in the surface over which the vehicle asses. In order to lock the yoke and reac 1 together, the latter has averticallyextending semi-annular flange 21, as shown 1n Figs. 4 and 6, that is adapted to engage under a yoke 22 formed by providing an L-shaped slot 23 in the rear side of the arm 14 of the Yoke at the root thereof. To unlock the yoke from the reach, the front axle is turned through ninety degrees or to a vertical position so as to throw the lip or flange 21 out of alinement with the hook 22, whereupon the front axle can be ulled forwardly to disengage the pivot 19 rom the socket 20. It will tlius be seen thatthe front axle can be readily detached after the body of the vehicle has been removed, and furthermore, the front axle can freely move on a vertical and a horizontal axis, as will be readily understood. From the forgoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of o eration will be readily a arent to those s rilled in the art to which t e lnvention appertains, and while I have lescribed the principle of operation of the 1nvention, together with the apparatus which I consider to be the best embodiment thereof,

- UNTTED STATES PATENT oFFToE. 1

WILLIAM M. HARGROTE, OF IROSPECT, TENNESSEE osses is I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims.

E Having thus described the invention, what I Claim is 1. In a'running ear for vehicles, the combination of a reacth provided with a lonrfitudinally-extending socketat one endJ a yo e provided with a socket and having a pivot engaging in the socket of the reach, means for detachahly locking the yoke and reach together, an axle provided with a central ver- Y tically-extending stud engaging in the socket of the yoke, and means cooperating with the said stud for ivotally connecting the yoke and axle toget 1er.

1. In a running gear for vehicles, the 'combination with a reach provided with a socket 2o at. one rand, and a transversely extending lip, a yoke having. one arm provided with an a ertuie and t ie other arm with a socket, a pivot extending horizontally and disposed in the socket of the reach, a hook on one of the arms of the yoke cooperating with the said iip for locking the yoke and reach together, an axle having an integral ivot engaging in the socketed arm and provii ed with a depression in line with the pivot; and a pivot bolt hav`- ing threaded engagement in the aperture of the other arm of the yoke and extending into the depression for pivotally connectii f thev axle with the yoke. t

3. In a running gear for vehicles, the cornbnation with a reach, a yoke provided with arms one of which has a vertical openin' and the other a socket arranged in line with the opening, a spring seat formed on one of the arms, an ax e provided with oppositely disposed bosses, one of which is socketed, a

pivot stud on the other boss engaging in the socketed arm, a holt having threaded engagement 1n the apcrtured arm and extending .into the socketed hess, a pivotal connection between the yoke and reach, and a locking device for connecting the reach and yoke together, said device comprising a transversely extending lip on one of the parts and a yoke on the other part engaging and disengaging the lip by relative rotary movement.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM M. I-IARGROVE.

vWitnesses: A L. I. LOGAN, En. HAnGRovE. 

